If we could gather in large crowds right now, and if our plans had included a baseball game yesterday, we would have witnessed in interesting phenomenon: every player wearing the same number—42.
Yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day, when all major league teams celebrate his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers, April 15, 1947, wearing #42. As you may know, for the preceding seventy years, all players had been white. Jackie Robinson was African-American.
You may also know how such an opportunity opened up for Jackie, through president and general manager for the Dodgers, Branch Rickey.
But perhaps you didn’t know (because many books and films have omitted this information) both Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson were Christian men of high integrity.
So what inspired Branch Rickey to put his faith in action by fighting against racial prejudice? It began with an incident in 1906.
Rickey coached the college baseball team at Ohio Wesleyan. When they traveled to South Bend, Indiana to play Notre Dame, his star catcher Charles Thomas, a black player, was denied lodging with the rest of the team at the Oliver Hotel.
Rickey asked if Thomas could stay in his room on a cot. With reluctance, management agreed. Later that evening when Rickey returned to their room, he found Thomas crying and rubbing his skin.
“If only I could make it white; if only I could make it white,” he sobbed.
Rickey made a vow to God that night. If he ever had a chance to combat racial prejudice, he would take it (1).
Not until 1942 did the opportunity present itself, when Rickey was hired to manage the Dodgers. The timing seemed perfect.
All races of Americans were fighting against the racist Nazi regime in Europe—even as racism continued in the States. The incongruity was obvious to anyone who considered the evidence.
Rickey spent two years contemplating the impact of integration on baseball and looking for the best candidate—a man of athletic ability and godly faith who could withstand the maelstrom of trouble sure to come.
Finally, in 1945, Rickey found Jackie. Not only could he play ball with the best of them, he was a strong Christian.
The two men met and Rickey offered Robinson a place on the team. He warned the recruit that racially motivated abuse would likely occur. “I’m looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back,” Rickey told him (2).
That meant Jackie could not retaliate. Only then might their experiment succeed, so more players of other races would be able to join major league teams. And once the color-barrier in sports was broken, perhaps change would come in business, entertainment, education, and more.
In October 1945, Branch Rickey told his friend and well-known broadcaster Lowell Thomas he was about to announce the signing of an African-American to the Dodgers.
“Branch! All H-___-___-L will break loose!” Thomas cried.
“No, Lowell,” Rickey responded, “all heaven will rejoice” (3).
Thomas’s words seemed prophetic. That first year, Jackie Robinson suffered vehement loathing—ridicule, defamation of character, death threats, and more–not just from baseball fans or opposing teams. His teammates added their own abuse with snide remarks and exclusion.
How could Jackie withstand such contempt day after day, week after week?
He prayed—on his knees—asking God for strength to resist fighting back, and Jackie trusted God to guide him and sustain him.
“I can testify to the fact it was a lot harder to turn the other cheek and refuse to fight back than it would have been to exercise a normal reaction,” he later wrote. “But it works, because sooner or later it brings a sense of shame to those who attack you. And that sense of shame is often the beginning of progress” (4).
Progress was enhanced by the support of Leo Durocher, Dodgers’ player-manager, Ed Stankey, second baseman, and PeeWee Reese, shortstop and team captain.
(PeeWee Reese)
By the next season, a few black players were hired by other teams and two more by the Dodgers. Pressure on Jackie eased.
Years later, Jackie wrote of Branch Rickey: “Others have insinuated that he is not sincere because he speaks so frequently and so emotionally about the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. It is the way of some people to make light of sincerity of this kind, because they themselves are too small to speak, think, and live big” (5).
As for Jackie, sportswriter Red Smith wrote, “[Jackie Robinson] would not be defeated. Not by the other team and not by life. The word for Jackie Robinson is ‘unconquerable’” (6).
______________________________
We too can be unconquerable in our challenges if we remember:
Jackie Robinson showed us the way.
Notes:
- https://godreports.com/2013/04/jackie-robinson-how-god-used-two-faith-filled-believers-to-desegregate-baseball/
- https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jackie-robinson-100th-birthday-his-faith-in-god-was-the-secret-ingredient-to-his-success
- https://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/branch-rickey-revolutionized-baseball-in-more-ways-than-one/
- https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jackie-robinson-100th-birthday
- https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/baseball/2017/07/18/jackie-robinsons-faith-god-detailed-new-book
- https://goodnewsmag.org/2011/03/the-life-and-faith-of-jackie-robinson/
Other sources:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/04/11/jackie-robinson-a-man-of-faith-column/2075367/
Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com (2); http://www.wikimedia.org; http://www.militarytimes.com; en.wikipedia.org; http://www.canva.com; www,wikimedia.com; http://www.canva.com.
From the Inside Out 
I’ve read this story before and I thank you for bringing it forward to our day. Sadly, the rhetoric today is all about leveraging someone else’s race for personal gain and posturing.
Your post is a helpful reminder of what godly men can accomplish when God brings them together for His work. Thanks!
Amen, Ponderosa Papa! Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson would be disappointed, I’m sure, that racism has not yet been put to rest, partly for the exact reasons you mention.
Once again you have taught me a valuable
lesson. If only people would realize that,
under our skin, we are all alike.
AMEN, Grace. I think there are many more people who would agree with your statement (in the second sentence) than not. May the day come, however, when all agree!
Nancy, thank you for this beautiful post. Yes, we must stop and remember that God created each and every one of us in His Image. We are all His children and He loves each and every one of us the same. Jackie Robinson is a name that will live on through the ages for the remarkable person he was.
“Remarkable” is the perfect adjective, Ruth. Jackie is still worthy of notice for his extraordinary feat of self-control–a victory he won with God’s strength. His story of faith-in-action needs to be perpetuated for the generations to come!
Thank you for sharing this story! I did not know that these men were men of faith, and it is so encouraging to see the powerful things God accomplished!
I didn’t know either, Ashton, for a long time. The faith-factor deserves front-and-center display in the story, because without God at work in both their lives, I don’t see how Rickey’s and Robinson’s experiment could have succeeded.
You are so very right!
Another great post, Nancy! I learned a lot, and reading of such strong faith and love encouraged me greatly!!
Thank you, Sheila. I learned a lot while researching, even though I was familiar with the story. These two men of faith have left a powerful example for us to follow!
Thanks for sharing this story. I had never heard it before and now will never forget it. It is so wonderful to discover that these men were Christians who put their faith into action. It’s a blessing to read this story.
I always marveled at Jackie’s self-control. It wasn’t until years later I discovered where it came from: the fruit of the Spirit in his life! Delighted you found blessing here, Cheri.
Nancy,
It’s always great to hear that story. The movie was great. Did you see it? With all the rotten things done in the world, it makes all the sweet things God is doing stronger, richer, and shine in the dark.
In Christ,
Gary
Are you referring to “42?” I have not seen it, but I understand the film leaves out (again!) the important part Rickey’s and Robinson’s faith played in what they were able to accomplish. Nevertheless, the Light is visible, shining in the darkness, just as you said, Gary!
Thank you for sharing this story. It is truly inspiring. What a difference can be made when an individual or individuals decide to do the right thing. I appreciate that you let us know of this manager and Jackie Robinson’s strong faith.
I’m so glad you found this story inspiring, Elaine–I sure have. You are so right about the difference that can be made by a single believer in Jesus or two. I still marvel that when Robinson and Rickey chose to do the right thing, God caused the seismic plates of racial injustice to start shifting!